Separation Anxiety

Definition

Separation anxiety is distress experienced by individuals (typically infants or young children) when separated from their primary caregivers.

Analogy

Imagine if your phone was taken away from you unexpectedly. You'd probably feel anxious and uncomfortable without it because it's something you rely on daily. That's how babies feel when separated from their caregivers.

Related terms

Attachment Theory: A psychological model attempting to describe the dynamics of long-term interpersonal relationships between humans.

Secure Attachment: A type of attachment characterized by feelings of security in relationships. Individuals with secure attachments feel comfortable with intimacy and are usually warm and loving.

Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD): A rare but serious condition where an infant or young child doesn't establish healthy attachments with parents or caregivers due to early neglect or mistreatment.